Analysis of lipid-lowering therapy depending on socio-demographic factors in primary health care: data from the ARGO study

Abstract

Aim. To study the relationship of socio-demographic factors with lipidlowering therapy in primary health care.Material and methods. This cross-sectional noncomparative study on the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (ARGO study) included patients aged ≥0 years who visited primary care physicians and cardiologists in the period 2013-2014 with diagnoses of stable coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, carotid atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm or having any type of revascularization or ischemic stroke in history. The study, which was conducted in 59 Russian cities, involved 768 doctors from 217 polyclinics.Results. The analysis included 18273 patients. Of the total number of patients, 7829 (42,9%) people took statins, while 10421 (57,1%) people did not receive it. The maximum percentage of statin use was in the age group of 70-79 years — 52,12%, and the minimum in the age group of 30-39 years — 13,24% (p<0,001). Most often, statins were taken by people with disabilities — 67,67%, and least often, by working people — 32,59% (p<0,001). In terms of marital status, widowed persons were significantly more likely to take statins, 50,36% (p<0,001); least of all in the group, single persons — 32,29%, while in the group of divorced persons, statins were taken by 37,76%, and in the group of married — 43,07%. According to the education level, patients with secondary professional education are the most adherent to statin treatment — 43,75%, while patients with incomplete secondary education were the least likely to take statins — 41,26% (p<0,054).Conclusion. Taking into account the socio-demographic factors that a person has when prescribing treatment will help develop a strategy for interacting with the patient and will help improve the quality and effectiveness of therapy in this group of patients.